Headphone Amplification

Are there any tube socket adapters worth getting for a PPX3 Slam with native 6sn7? I've got the itch to roll.

Do you like stepped attenuators in your amps? I had one in my Corda HA-2 MKII SE which I've since sold, and find myself missing it. I never really had the problem of finding the "right" volume level that other listeners have. Right now, I think I will definitely have one in my next amp. So, what is it for you?

I've got two bad 6sn7s. What do you personally do with your tubes once they go badly microphonic? Do you just throw them away? Is it worth it to try to open the tube up so maybe I can check out the insides, as an educational experiment?

Anyone had experience of using them? Problems or concerns?

You've lived your whole life as an audiophile experiencing the natural goodness tubes bring to headphone amplification. While others sought refuge in new technologies, in solid state design, you were content to relish in the warmth of heated glass, ignoring any design that did not implement your selfish, no, sinful obsession, with hot, glowing metal through sometimes tinted glass. But what will you do when all the NOS tubes are gone? What will you do when Sovtek 6sn7s go for $750 a pair? Today, this is a lesson you must learn. Look around you. All around this room are popular solid state amp designs in the $1000 dollar or less range, maybe a bit more if you can stretch…

Anyone have any feelings they'd like to share about this conflict? http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=233352 Basically Headphonia completely ripped off Dr. Meier's design for the Porta Corda III. I don't get any joy out of portable amplification but it was an interesting thread to read through.

My amp only has one set of inputs, and I'm getting really tired of pulling RCA's everytime I want to go from TT to CDP. Is there some kind of switch box I can buy I can put between my amp and my sources that will add convenience without sacrificing sound quality? It doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.

Well, I got a summer internship in DC, so I am in need of a simple DAC+amp unit that does the job decently. The only one that I could think of was the GCHA, but I haven't actually heard the unit, but I read some good comments here from Reks in older threads. I will be running off its USB connection, driving RS-1s and HD650s. Any impressions would be fine.

Does anyone know of a decent integrated speaker amp that also has a nicely built headphone out? I think the Cary integrated amps may be an example of this, but I was wondering if there were any other choices. Around $1.5k max is a probable budget though I'm trying to stay under $1k used. Thanks for the help guys!

I came across this on DIYaudio. 200,000, that's right, 200,000 tubes going for the low price of $5000. That's like 2.5 cents a tube! Transporting them all is going to be a bitch though, but seriously, 200,000 tubes.

http://www.angela.com/ http://www.thetubestore.com I'm looking to try out more tubes for my amp and the first thing i want to know is who should i buy them from.

Well, Just received my new Woo 6 amp. Man this thing is beautiful! Extremely well built, it has plenty of muscle to drive my K701's to very loud levels. This is my first tube product, and I must say I'm very impressed! I can't believe how good this old technology can sound. What really impresses me the most , is how quite the amp is. Music seem to flow from a dead black background. I only have about 12 hours on my amp, so an in depth review should wait I guess, although I'm not one of those die hard believers in burn for electronics, I do think it affects dynamic drivers though. So far the Woo is a class act, and Jack is a wonderful, passionate, business man, who pays a…

Hey all, Just heard from my friend Renato [looser101] and Peter has finally dropped my amp off to him, so I will be getting it back tonight. I'll be sure to take pics and let you know how it is and if there are any improvements. Apparently the faceplate still looks pretty ghetto, but I will be having a nice wood one made by Steve [swt61] anyways. Now on to the tube question: He has removed the 4 6H30's from the amp and installed 4 6BZ7's. I haven't talked to him about this, so I don't know the reason, but I am sure he will explain it to me tonight... though I doubt it will make any sense. Anyways, what do you know about hte 6BZ7? What brands would you recomme…

So I got a pair of K1000s a couple weeks ago, and now I need an amp. Any ideas?

Hi all, I just ordered my first tube amp. I have alway been a solid state guy, and was wondering what all this hype is about. I have a new pair of AKG K701 headphones, and figured that a headphone amp might be a good place to start. So I ordered a WooAudio WA6. Here is a link. http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa6.html. I won't get the amp for about 7 more days, and am just curious if people can explain to me the differences I might be hearing over solid state. If nothing else I am really going to love the glow. People tell me that tubes are more laid back than transistors. Does this mean I will hear a more smoothed over detail in the sound? They also say that tubes don't …

All my little boxes of little tubes are starting to drive me crazy. They are all over my desk, all around the house. I've read not to store them in drawers, because the constant opening/closing could shake things up, so I've been keeping them on the top shelf of a dark closet, but they must creep out at night and spread all over my desk. So what do you do with your unused tubes, and do you have any nice, tidy, tube storage solutions?

This is the 'new' McAlister EA-6, freshly returned from Peter, with a better than new rework of the circuit... tube compliment is: 1x 12BQ6 1x 6BQ6 2x 12AU7 4x 6CG7 4x 17GW6 This is with the Eastsound E5 and the HE60. Good news: This amp is great, if not spectacular when playing acoustic (Allison Krauss), classical, and some rock (Jane's Addiction, Who Ultimate Collection, and Hoobastank). Just superb. Bad news: On saturated and distorted rock (Tool '10k Days' and 'Lateralus', Jett 'Get Born' and 'Shine On', and even Velvet Revolver), I catch a raft of fuzzy distortion (almost static) in the upper guitar band and the top of percussion (cymbals)... BUT, ONL…

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What is the story on the "cryovalve" process? Quote from Tube Depot CryoValve Story:

The old website says that there's a new website coming, so for those of you in the know, is Craig going to reveal some new products?

Well, I have decided to get the Woo Audio 6. This should have no problem driving my 701's, is built like a tank, and from what I have heard has a nice mellow sound.

But have you ever recommended an amp not sold by cattylink?

Well, my problems with the Val E10 continue. After 5 days with it I'm done. At this point I'm really tired of messing with this. It has taken up way to much of my time. I got the replacement tube yesterday, and of course I still have the same problem of a buzz and no music after about an hour or so. I think instead of wasting anymore time I'm just going to order the WOOAudio 3plus. I don't think it will have any trouble with my K701's, and I should easily be able to get tubes, and repairs for it. Do you know anything about these amps? The 3 plus was beefed up to handle the K701's better. If you have any info on this amp let me know. I'll be ready to pull the trigger in a…

Is this true? Has anyone opened up the HPA-1? And are there schematics for the HPA-1? Danke

Has anyone heard this amp with AKG K701's? Does the amp have enough output to drive them to decent listening levels? Looks well built. How does it sound?